Child abuse prevention programs have begun to focus on strengthening families to prevent abuse, as opposed to only targeting risk factors. Father involvement with children is one of these protective factors and is associated with improved child well-being. This brief from the Child & Family Research Partnership discusses the relationship between involved fathers and protective factors against abuse in families, including knowledge of parenting and connection to social supports.

In this three-part podcast series, the Child Welfare Information Gateway presents information about the importance of father involvement in the lives of children, as well as suggestions for engaging fathers and working with fatherhood organizations. In Parts 1 and 2, leaders from fatherhood organizations share some benefits of father involvement, tips for locating local noncustodial fathers, and insights into the perspective of fathers. In Part 3, a partnership between a child welfare agency and fatherhood program in South Carolina is discussed.

Investments in early childhood programs are on the rise due to a growing emphasis on their benefits for supporting childhood development. In this report, the RAND Corporation analyzes the benefits and economic returns of three early childhood interventions in New Hampshire: early home visiting, high-quality child care, and high-quality preschool. The report found that many New Hampshire children are at risk for facing early adversity and future achievement gaps, but the intervention programs studied do offer benefits. Also included are recommendations to guide State investment in early childhood programs.

Mathematica Policy Research, as part of an evaluation of the Parents and Children Together study, conducted a qualitative study of fathers who voluntarily participated in Responsible Fatherhood programs. Many of these fathers struggled with unstable employment and low wages, which complicated their ability to financially support their children, despite a desire to do so. The findings show some of the challenges fathers experience when dealing with child support systems, and the report makes suggestions for service providers about how to help fathers address them.